Finisher Encyclopedia

Also known as: 450

A top-rope splash with one and a quarter forward rotations, landing chest-first on the downed opponent with incredible velocity.

Innovated by: 2 Cold Scorpio

With the opponent draped across the second rope, the wrestler swings through the ropes and delivers a spinning heel kick to the face.

Innovated by: Rey Mysterio

Also known as: 630

A top-rope senton where the wrestler performs one and three-quarter rotations before landing on the opponent. One of the most acrobatic finishers ever.

Innovated by: Jack Evans

Also known as: Camel Clutch

The wrestler sits on the opponent's back, hooks their arms over their thighs, and pulls back on the chin, bending the spine painfully.

Innovated by: Iron Sheik

The wrestler grabs the opponent's foot and twists the ankle while applying pressure with the forearms, often grapevined for maximum torque.

Innovated by: Ken Shamrock

A crossface chickenwing with a body scissors, combining an arm trap with a headlock while the legs squeeze the midsection.

Innovated by: Asuka

Also known as: AA, FU

A fireman's carry takeover where the wrestler lifts the opponent across their shoulders and throws them forward onto their back.

Innovated by: John Cena

A double-knee backbreaker (Backstabber) transitioned immediately into the Banks Statement crossface submission without releasing.

Innovated by: Sasha Banks

A backstabber transitioned into a bridging crossface, bending the opponent backward while applying a crossface simultaneously.

Innovated by: Sasha Banks

A sit-out powerbomb where the wrestler lifts the opponent onto their shoulders and drives them down while sitting out for maximum impact.

Innovated by: Batista

Also known as: BME

A picture-perfect moonsault from the top rope known for its exceptional height, form, and accuracy.

Innovated by: CIMA

A top-rope corkscrew 450 splash that combines a forward rotation with a full corkscrew twist for a spectacular aerial finisher.

Innovated by: PAC

Also known as: The End

A spinning back heel kick with devastating accuracy, delivered with a quick rotation to generate maximum force to the head.

Innovated by: Malakai Black

A spinning sit-out slam where the wrestler lifts the opponent, spins them 180 degrees, and drops them onto their back.

Innovated by: Sami Zayn

A running bicycle kick delivered to the face of a standing opponent, using the wrestler's size and momentum for devastating impact.

Innovated by: Sheamus

A rear-mounted submission combining a neck crank with a trapped arm, torquing the head and neck while controlling the body.

Innovated by: WALTER

The wrestler bounces off the ropes, slingshots over the top rope, and delivers a spinning lariat on the way back into the ring.

Innovated by: Hangman Adam Page

Also known as: Bull Hammer Elbow

A running elbow strike where the wrestler winds up and drives a forearm/elbow into the opponent's skull with massive force.

Innovated by: Wade Barrett

An inverted Death Valley Driver where the opponent is held face-up across the shoulders and dropped headfirst. One of the most protected moves ever.

Innovated by: Kenta Kobashi

Also known as: Running Knee, Knee Plus

A running single-leg knee strike to a kneeling or rising opponent's head, delivered with full sprinting momentum.

Innovated by: Daniel Bryan

A bridging double chickenwing where the wrestler hooks both arms, rolls backward, and bridges, bending the opponent over their body.

Innovated by: Bryan Danielson

The wrestler grabs the opponent by the throat, lifts them into the air, and slams them flat on their back with authority.

Innovated by: The Undertaker

Also known as: Claymore

A running bicycle kick where the wrestler charges at a kneeling or rising opponent and drives his boot directly into their face.

Innovated by: Drew McIntyre

A diving dropkick from one corner of the ring to the opposite corner, using a trash can lid or dropkicking it into the opponent's face.

Innovated by: Shane McMahon

A standing arm-trap sleeper hold where the wrestler locks the opponent's arm and wraps their other arm around the throat.

Innovated by: Ted DiBiase

The wrestler grabs the opponent by the head and jumps up, driving both knees into their face while falling backward.

Innovated by: Chris Jericho

A trust-fall style back senton from the top rope where the wrestler falls backward onto the opponent with arms crossed over their chest.

Innovated by: Darby Allin

Also known as: Rear Naked Choke

A standing or grounded rear naked choke where the wrestler wraps their arm around the opponent's throat and squeezes with a body scissors.

Innovated by: Samoa Joe

Also known as: Coup de Grace

A diving double foot stomp from the top turnbuckle where the wrestler drives both feet into the opponent's chest or midsection.

Innovated by: Finn Balor

Also known as: Crossface

The wrestler hooks the opponent's arm with their legs and locks their hands around the face, cranking the neck to the side.

Innovated by: Chris Benoit

Also known as: Blackout, The Stomp

A running stomp to the back of a bent-over opponent's head, driving their face into the mat. Often set up from the ropes.

Innovated by: Seth Rollins

Also known as: DVD

The wrestler drapes the opponent face-up across their shoulders in a fireman's carry and falls sideways, driving the opponent's head into the mat.

Innovated by: Etsuko Mita

A spinning headlock driver where the wrestler spins the opponent around and drives them into the mat head-first in a fluid twisting motion.

Innovated by: Tetsuya Naito

Also known as: Disarmer

A modified armbar where the wrestler traps the opponent's arm and hyperextends it while controlling the wrist and shoulder.

Innovated by: Becky Lynch

Also known as: Discus Clothesline

A spinning lariat where the wrestler rotates their body 360 degrees to build momentum before delivering a devastating clothesline.

Innovated by: Brodie Lee

Also known as: Flying Elbow Drop

A top-rope elbow drop where the wrestler leaps from the top turnbuckle and drives their elbow into the heart of the downed opponent.

Innovated by: Randy Savage

Also known as: The Eclipse

A diving stunner variation where the wrestler flips forward off the top rope and catches the standing opponent with a stunner on the way down.

Innovated by: Ember Moon

A spinning lifting reverse STO. The wrestler hooks the opponent, spins, and drives them face-first into the mat. Virtually never kicked out of.

Innovated by: Baron Corbin

Also known as: F5

The wrestler lifts the opponent into a fireman's carry and then spins them off their shoulders, throwing them face-first to the mat.

Innovated by: Brock Lesnar

Also known as: Figure 8

A bridging figure-four leglock that adds extra torque and pressure to the already devastating hold by bridging upward.

Innovated by: Charlotte Flair

Also known as: Figure Four, Figure-8

The wrestler wraps the opponent's legs around their own in a figure-four shape while lying on the mat, applying tremendous pressure to the knee.

Innovated by: Buddy Rogers

Also known as: Five Moves of Doom

Cena's signature sequence: shoulder blocks, spinning side slam, Five Knuckle Shuffle fist drop, finished with an Attitude Adjustment.

Innovated by: John Cena

Also known as: Five Star Frog Splash

An elevated frog splash performed with extra height and distance, covering more of the ring before landing on the opponent.

Innovated by: Rob Van Dam

Also known as: Frogsplash Elbow

A hybrid move combining the leap of a frog splash with the impact of a diving elbow drop, landing elbow-first on the opponent.

Innovated by: Kevin Owens

A top-rope splash where the wrestler leaps with arms and legs spread wide, then tucks in mid-air before crashing chest-first onto the opponent.

Innovated by: Art Barr

A grounded armbar where the wrestler lies perpendicular to the opponent and hyperextends their arm by pulling it against the joint.

Innovated by: Yoshiaki Fujiwara

Also known as: Go To Sleep

The wrestler lifts the opponent into a fireman's carry, then drops them face-first into a rising knee strike.

Innovated by: KENTA

A double underhook facebuster where the wrestler hooks both arms and lifts the opponent before driving them face-first into the mat.

Innovated by: Beth Phoenix

Also known as: Powerbomb Symphony

A piledriver where the opponent's arms are trapped behind their back before being dropped directly on their head.

Innovated by: Karl Gotch

Also known as: Gogoplata

A gogoplata where the wrestler lies on their back, traps the opponent's arm with their leg, and presses their shin across the throat.

Innovated by: The Undertaker

A running yakuza kick delivered to an opponent propped up in the corner, driving the sole of the boot into their face.

Innovated by: Sami Zayn

Also known as: Full Nelson, Master Lock

A full nelson submission where the wrestler locks both arms behind the opponent's neck and squeezes, compressing the spine and trapping the arms.

Innovated by: Bobby Lashley

Also known as: Claw Hold

The wrestler applies a vice-like grip to the opponent's skull with their fingers, squeezing the temples to cause excruciating pain.

Innovated by: Fritz Von Erich

A vertical suplex lifted into a delayed position high above the wrestler, then driven down into a powerslam for the pin.

Innovated by: Goldberg

A spinning back elbow strike where the wrestler spins their body and drives a loaded elbow into the opponent's face.

Innovated by: Chris Jericho

Also known as: Kimura

A double wristlock that hyperextends the shoulder joint by rotating the opponent's arm behind their back at an extreme angle.

Innovated by: Masahiko Kimura

Also known as: Bomaye

A running single knee strike to the head of a kneeling opponent, derived from the Bomaye knee strike used in Japanese wrestling.

Innovated by: Shinsuke Nakamura

Also known as: WMD, Weapon of Mass Destruction

A massive closed-fist right hook delivered with full force, leveraging the giant's enormous hand to knock opponents out cold.

Innovated by: Big Show

An elevated sit-out powerbomb where the wrestler lifts the opponent extremely high before driving them down with full force.

Innovated by: The Undertaker

Also known as: Litasault, Moonsault

A top-rope hurricanrana combined with a moonsault, blending high-flying lucha libre style with technical precision.

Innovated by: Lita

Also known as: Socko

The wrestler jams their fingers under the opponent's tongue and presses on a nerve bundle in the mandible, causing intense pain and unconsciousness.

Innovated by: Sam Sheppard

Also known as: Double Knee Drop

A diving double knee strike from the top rope to a seated or kneeling opponent, driving both knees into their chest or face.

Innovated by: Sasha Banks

Also known as: Michinoku Driver II

A scoop brainbuster where the wrestler lifts the opponent in a scoop slam position and drops them on their upper back and neck.

Innovated by: TAKA Michinoku

Also known as: Lionsault

A backflip from the top rope or second rope where the wrestler lands across the opponent in a splash position.

Innovated by: Mando Guerrero

Also known as: OWA

An electric chair position transitioned into a sitout piledriver, dropping the opponent directly on their head from an elevated position.

Innovated by: Kenny Omega

The wrestler wraps the opponent's legs and hooks them before dropping to a seated position, spiking the opponent on their head.

Innovated by: Kevin Steen

Also known as: Canadian Destroyer

A top-rope Canadian Destroyer where the wrestler flips the opponent off the turnbuckle into a spike piledriver.

Innovated by: Adam Cole

Also known as: Dirty Deeds, Double Arm DDT

A double underhook DDT where the wrestler hooks both of the opponent's arms and drives them headfirst into the mat.

Innovated by: Jon Moxley

The wrestler hooks both of the opponent's arms behind their back, then jumps and drops them face-first into the mat.

Innovated by: Triple H

Also known as: The Most Electrifying Move

The Rock bounces off the ropes twice, flips the elbow pad into the crowd, then drops a theatrical elbow on the downed opponent.

Innovated by: The Rock

A top-rope 450 corkscrew splash where the wrestler adds a twist while rotating forward, creating a spinning splash.

Innovated by: Hayabusa

A snap poisonrana to spike the opponent on their head, immediately followed by lifting them into the One Winged Angel piledriver.

Innovated by: Kenny Omega

The wrestler tosses a charging opponent into the air and catches them on the way down into a thunderous powerbomb.

Innovated by: Kevin Owens

Also known as: Sit-out Powerbomb, Crucifix Powerbomb

The wrestler lifts the opponent up onto their shoulders and slams them back-first into the mat with authoritative force.

Innovated by: Various

Also known as: Diamond Cutter, Ace Crusher

A jumping cutter where the wrestler leaps into the air and grabs the opponent's head, slamming them face-first into the mat. Can be hit from anywhere.

Innovated by: Randy Orton

A short-arm ripcord lariat where the wrestler pulls the opponent toward them by the wrist and levels them with a devastating lariat.

Innovated by: Kazuchika Okada

Also known as: RNC, Sleeper Hold

A chokehold applied from behind where the wrestler wraps their arm around the opponent's throat and locks it with the other arm.

Innovated by: Various

A top-rope corkscrew shooting star press combining a backflip with a corkscrew twist for a breathtaking aerial assault.

Innovated by: PAC

The wrestler sits on the opponent's back and hooks both arms in a crossbar position, pulling them backward to hyperextend both shoulders.

Innovated by: Perry Saturn

Also known as: Ripcord V-Trigger

The wrestler whips the opponent into a short-arm ripcord and delivers a devastating V-Trigger knee strike as they bounce back.

Innovated by: Kenny Omega

A uranage side slam where the wrestler hooks the opponent's arm and drives them down back-first into the mat with tremendous force.

Innovated by: The Rock

Also known as: STFU, Stepover Toehold Facelock

The wrestler traps the opponent's leg in a stepover toehold while simultaneously applying a crossface, attacking both the leg and neck.

Innovated by: Lou Thesz

Also known as: Senton

A diving back-first splash from the top turnbuckle where the wrestler lands across the downed opponent with their full weight.

Innovated by: Various

Also known as: Scorpion Deathlock

A standing leg lock where the wrestler crosses the opponent's legs and turns them over, applying pressure to the back and legs.

Innovated by: Bret Hart

Also known as: SSP

A top-rope backflip press where the wrestler performs a standing backflip from the top rope and lands chest-first on the opponent.

Innovated by: Jushin Thunder Liger

A spinning inverted STO where the wrestler kisses the opponent on the forehead before swinging them around and planting them face-first.

Innovated by: Bray Wyatt

Also known as: Gore

A running tackle where the wrestler drives their shoulder into the opponent's midsection, folding them in half and slamming them to the mat.

Innovated by: Goldberg

A devastating one-two combination where Goldberg spears the opponent, then lifts them into a stalling Jackhammer suplex for the pin.

Innovated by: Goldberg

A corkscrew moonsault with an extra rotation, combining a twist with a backflip for one of the most visually spectacular finishers.

Innovated by: AJ Styles

A pop-up sit-out powerbomb variation where the wrestler tosses the opponent into the air and catches them into a devastating sit-out bomb.

Innovated by: Kevin Owens

A standing surfboard-style hold where the wrestler places a knee in the opponent's back and pulls both arms backward.

Innovated by: Scott Steiner

A vertical suplex into a tombstone piledriver with a 360-degree rotation. One of the most dangerous moves in wrestling history.

Innovated by: Scott Steiner

Also known as: Stunner

A kick to the gut followed by dropping to a seated position while grabbing the opponent's head, driving their jaw into the attacker's shoulder.

Innovated by: Steve Austin

The wrestler hooks both of the opponent's arms while they are face-down, lifts them up, and falls forward driving them face-first into the mat.

Innovated by: AJ Styles

A leaping punch where the wrestler cocks one fist back and launches forward with a flying straight punch to the opponent's face.

Innovated by: Roman Reigns

A flying Superman Punch to stun the opponent followed immediately by a full-force Spear to fold them in half for the pin.

Innovated by: Roman Reigns

A diving senton from the top turnbuckle where the wrestler backflips and lands back-first across the downed opponent.

Innovated by: Jeff Hardy

Also known as: Superkick

A devastating superkick delivered to the chin of the opponent, often preceded by tuning up the band by stomping the foot repeatedly.

Innovated by: Shawn Michaels

The wrestler crosses the opponent's legs and turns them over while stepping through, applying pressure to the lower back and legs.

Innovated by: Dean Malenko

Also known as: Three Amigos

Three consecutive vertical suplexes followed by a climb to the top rope for a devastating frog splash. Eddie Guerrero's iconic combo.

Innovated by: Eddie Guerrero

Also known as: Tiger Driver

A double underhook powerbomb variant where the opponent is spiked directly on their head instead of landing flat on their back.

Innovated by: Mitsuharu Misawa

Also known as: Tombstone

The wrestler holds the opponent upside down against their body and drops to their knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat.

Innovated by: The Undertaker

Three consecutive German suplexes performed without releasing the waist lock, capped with a diving headbutt from the top rope.

Innovated by: Chris Benoit

A spinning heel kick where the wrestler rotates 360 degrees and strikes the opponent in the side of the head with their heel.

Innovated by: Kofi Kingston

Jeff Hardy's iconic sequence: a spinning Twist of Fate cutter to drop the opponent, followed by a Swanton Bomb from the top rope.

Innovated by: Jeff Hardy

A top-rope twisting splash where the wrestler performs a corkscrew rotation before landing on the downed opponent.

Innovated by: Alexa Bliss

A running knee strike where the wrestler charges at the opponent and drives a knee into their head or jaw with explosive force.

Innovated by: Kenny Omega

Also known as: Liontamer, Boston Crab

An elevated Boston Crab where the wrestler turns the opponent face-down, grabs both legs, and leans back applying pressure to the spine.

Innovated by: Chris Jericho

A spinning front powerslam where the wrestler picks the opponent up across their chest and drives them into the mat with a spin.

Innovated by: Mark Henry

Also known as: LeBell Lock, Omoplata Crossface

A modified omoplata crossface combining a trapped arm with a crossface, locking down the shoulder and cranking the neck simultaneously.

Innovated by: Daniel Bryan